Lesson Y7-U02-L10

Why Did William Win Quiz: KS3 History, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

In partnership with Revision Ninja

Lesson Y7-U02-L10, Why Did William Win: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 History (National Curriculum), Unit 2: Year 7: Battle of Hastings, written with Revision Ninja.

Host it live on the board and students join with a game code on their own devices, or revise alone with Free Play. The answers are revealed in the game.

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The 20 questions

  1. What are the three main categories historians use to explain why William won?

    • Skill, mistakes and luck
    • Weapons, training and food
    • Treachery, weather and numbers
    • Money, power and religion

  2. Which Norman tactic was a deliberate example of military skill at Hastings?

    • Naval blockade
    • Feigned retreat
    • Poisoned wells
    • Night ambush

  3. What major tactical mistake did King Harold make after fighting at Stamford Bridge?

    • Burning the fleet
    • Surrendering London
    • Disbanding the fyrd
    • Rushing south

  4. Which lucky event helped William cross the English Channel safely?

    • Fog lifted
    • Tide froze
    • Eclipse occurred
    • Wind changed

  5. What happened to the Saxon shield wall when the fyrd broke ranks?

    • Shields burned
    • Gaps opened
    • Wall doubled
    • Archers retreated

  6. Which unexpected event forced King Harold to march his army north urgently?

    • Viking invasion
    • Irish raid
    • Welsh rebellion
    • French landing

  7. Whose official backing did William secure to make his invasion look like God's will?

    • The Archbishop of Canterbury
    • The King of France
    • The Holy Roman Emperor
    • The Pope

  8. Why do historians group historical reasons rather than just list them?

    • To show connections
    • To memorize dates
    • To save space
    • To prove bias

  9. Which battle exhausted Harold's army right before the Battle of Hastings?

    • Stamford Bridge
    • Hastings
    • Gate Fulford
    • Assandun

  10. What Saxon defence broke when they chased the retreating Normans?

    • Archers
    • Shield wall
    • Cavalry charge
    • Iron barricade

  11. Which combination of factors allowed William's cavalry to slaughter the Saxons?

    • Age and terrain
    • Skill and luck
    • Stealth and poison
    • Size and wealth

  12. Approximately how far did King Harold's army march in total before the Battle of Hastings?

    • Over 250 miles
    • Under 50 miles
    • Over 1000 miles
    • Exactly 100 miles

  13. What tactical term describes William using archers and cavalry together effectively?

    • Guerrilla tactics
    • Siege engine
    • Total warfare
    • Combined arms

  14. Into which group does the death rumour spread through the Norman army belong?

    • Mistakes
    • Preparation
    • Luck
    • Skill

  15. What major task did William spend months completing in Normandy before sailing?

    • Training archers
    • Digging trenches
    • Building a fleet
    • Mining silver

  16. What makes an explanation of why William won weak?

    • Comparing army tactics
    • Using chronicler evidence
    • Ignoring military factors
    • Discussing troop numbers

  17. How can a historian link a factor to two different groups?

    • Ignoring one group
    • Showing dual effects
    • Changing the date
    • Inventing new evidence

  18. What type of reason is 'the wind delayed William'?

    • Mistake
    • Luck
    • Skill
    • Religion

  19. Which category best fits Harold's poor tactical decisions?

    • Providence
    • Skill
    • Luck
    • Mistakes

  20. Into which category does William's use of the Pope's banner fall?

    • Luck
    • Skill
    • Weather
    • Mistakes

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